Choose Green Veggies over Green Beer

With St. Patrick’s Day almost upon us, the need to discuss alcohol consumption and its effect on our health is important. After all of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, this is a great time to evaluate your alcohol consumption, be reminded of its health risks and review the recommendations for healthy alcohol consumption.  This St. Patrick’s Day, we encourage you to make the healthier choice and choose green vegetables instead of green beer.

Why Should I Skip the Beer?

There are various effects that alcohol has on your body that put you at greater risk for developing chronic conditions. Alcohol damages body tissues – this includes cells in your mouth, throat and liver. Often these cells try to repair themselves, but this can lead to DNA changes in the cells that put your body at risk for developing cancer.

Another effect of alcohol consumption is that it hinders the proper absorption of nutrients into the cells. One example is folate, a vitamin that is needed in the body to stay healthy. Heavy drinkers are found to have very low levels of folate. For women, heavy alcohol use also puts you at high risk for breast cancer. This is due to the fact that alcohol can raise the blood levels of estrogen, which is an important hormone in the development and growth of breast tissues. Research continues to be done to better understand how alcohol can affect these bodily systems.

Is Alcohol Okay in Moderation?

The most important factor is to understand the alcohol content in drinks, so you can properly monitor your consumption. “One drink” is universally accepted to mean a 12-ounce beer, a 4-5 ounce glass of wine or a 1.5 fluid ounce shot. The American Cancer Society recommends limiting consumption to 2 drinks a day for a man and 1 drink a day for a woman.

It is also important to talk about the findings that alcohol consumption is linked to lower risk for heart disease. Red wine is often known to reduce risk for heart disease due to the antioxidants and flavonoids in the drink, as well as the slight increase in good cholesterol that have anti-coagulant properties. Yet the American Cancer Society urges people to find other ways to reduce their risk for heart disease, which can also benefit the general fitness and health of the individual and decrease the risk of cancer as well. Other healthy options include not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and diet, staying physically active and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol.

So, take this month to evaluate your alcohol consumption. Is it at a healthy level? In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, celebrate with healthy foods, friends and Irish music – while knowing how that green beer or whiskey drinks can affect your body. 

To learn more about the cancer risks involved with drinking, please visit the American Cancer Society’s website at  http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCauses/DietandPhysicalActivity/alcohol-use-and-cancer

To learn more about alcohol and alcohol abuse, please visit the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence at http://ncadd.org/index.php/learn-about-alcohol/overview.